I love Needles...Allegedly

than a witty Elvira’s Baby. Through all the make-up and clever schtick, I got to feel the real queer underneath. Sharon’s (Aaron’s) true self shined through and that’s what I needed in order to forge a connection. I could sympathize with the outsider kid who grew up in a reprehensible environment that was probably exacerbated by the rural fun-dome that is Iowa. She endured anti-gay and anti-freak torment until the bullying forced her to drop out of high school. She wasn’t just a queer; she was a curiously dark queer, and she was beleaguered for it. Perhaps because of her experiences, she aspired to be a role model for the queer queers, the slightly twisted, often misunderstood and seldom praised. She was in essence, speaking about being a role model for me (or at least high-school me). She is the ultimate freak flag for being whoever you are, and her flag flies high. Sharon tugged on my demented little heartstrings and high-school-me was vindicated by hearing her message.

I’ll spare you the deets of my high school horrors, but I was ostracized and picked on, kind of like every other LGBT’er out there.  Call me fat, ugly, dorky, but don’t call me gay! My lesbionic ways disgusted so many of the loved ones around me, it was tragic. I never lost friends because I was unattractive but I’ve lost more “friends” than I can count for being gay. It’s a total mind bender to be loved as a person and hated for your sexuality. An endless barrage of anti-gay poop turned me into a very dark person.

I embraced horror, zombies, and freaks alike. While I have a much more pleasant disposition now, back then I was downright spooky. I found solace in other things that were abnormal and pleasantly frightening. Delving into all things horror was the best way to insulate myself and simultaneously enforce my own strengths. Embracing the fictitious scary seemed to fortify me against the truly scary. Ever since, I’ve been totally in love with all things spooky.

Even if Sharon Needles stood for nothing, her striking, aberrant show and charming wit make her a great barrier-breaker and a crush blog contender. Her willingness to take risks and consistently show fierce creativity makes the bats in my belfry go bath salt crazy! What I find truly endearing is what and who she stands for and the transparent nature of her tumultuous journey. She absolutely is a champion and now, thanks to RuPaul’s Drag Race, she has the crown to show for it.